A Cellulomonas strain (CSI-I) which could readily degrade cotton wool was isolated from soil. Production of cell-bound and extracellular carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase), P-glucosidase and avicelase during growth on different substrates was determined. Methods for the isolation of mutants were assessed and mutants were isolated which were altered in their ability to degrade cotton wool when compared to CSI-L Studies on one mutant (CSl-7) which was able to degrade cotton wool more rapidly than the parent revealed large differences in the levels of cell-bound and extracellular CMCase when compared to CSI-L

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